Letters and Spells
I wake up to someone roughly shaking my shoulders.
“Lyra wake up! Uncle Pads made our favorite for breakfast,” someone enthusiastically yells in my ear.
“He made French toast?” I question, rubbing my bleary eyes.
“Yes! C’mon or it’s all going to be gone,” Harry says.
As my eyes clear, I can make out his black, messy hair and startling green eyes.
“Okay, race you!” I say, darting past his arms trying to trap me and sprinting through the door and down the stairs. I can hear Harry’s footsteps following and I risk a look back. He’s smiling and reaching his arms out to grab me. He’s also too close for comfort. I flip back around and blast through the kitchen door. I see my dad behind the door and go flying into him.
“Whoa, pup! Good morning to you, too,” My dad says chuckling. He’s holding onto my shoulders to steady us both when Harry bursts through the door and crashes into us. We all fall onto the ground, my dad on the bottom grunts as he takes the brunt of the fall.
“Godric, you lot are heavy,” my dad wheezes.
“Sorry, Uncle Pads,” Harry says, sheepishly.
“Sorry, dad. We’ll go wait at the table,” I say, rolling off and standing.
Harry copies me and we help my dad up. Sirius straightens out his shirt and ruffles Harry’s hair, “It’s alright guys, I’ll bring breakfast out in just a moment.”
Harry and I go to take our seats at the dining table when we spot two owls waiting on the back of our usual seats. We both turn toward each other and let out gasps.
“Is that what I think it is?” Harry exclaims.
“I think it is,” I reply, smiling and walking over to my seat.
I gently detach the letter from the owl and scratch its head. It coos at me, blinks, then takes off through the open window. A second later, I see the other owl fly through as well. I look back down at the letter in my hands and read,
Lyra Celphei Black
Second Floor, First Room on the Left
Black Manor
I turn the letter over to open it when my dad comes in with four plates trailing him. I watch as he waves the plates to each spot and summons condiments, toppings, and drinks from the kitchen.
“Alright pups, let me get Addie in here then you can open your letters. I’m sure you’re already aware of what letter it is, just give me second,” my dad trailed off, raising his wand and casting his patronus.
“Addie, at your earliest convenience please come to the house. There is something going on that we need your assistance with,” he says.
The giant dog nods its head and gallops through the wall. Not even 10 seconds later, the cracking sound of apparition can be heard. My mum’s frantic voice rang out.
“Sirius? What’s going on? Who’s hurt?”
“Works every time,” Sirius smirks, “We’re in here, Addie!”
My mum comes bursting through the dining room door to see Harry and I holding letters.
“Oh. Sirius, why did you make it sound like someone was injured? I still would’ve come if you said they were opening their letters,” my mum says, turning to face her husband.
“Yeah, but you got here a lot faster this way. The kids really want to open their letters,” my dad replies, moving toward his wife to greet her with a kiss that definitely shouldn’t be seen by me or Harry.
I throw my hands up to cover my eyes and screech, “Dad! Get a room, please. You have children present!”
My dad laughs, “What else is a man who misses his wife supposed to do? Children present or not.”
Harry and I gag, pretending to retch. “Yeah, next time maybe give us a warning so we don’t have to bleach our eyes,” Harry grimaces.
“I’ll think about it,” my dad winks.
“I’m sorry about that,” my mum chimes in, slightly red in the face, “Now that I’m here, please open your letters. This is a big day for you.”
We all take our seats, Harry and I still clutching our letters. I stare down at the wax seal as I can hear Harry already taking his letter out. What if I end up in Slytherin? I don’t want to disappoint my dad.
“I can hear your thinking from over here, pup. It’s okay to be in any house. Your house doesn’t make you good or bad.” My dad says softly, “I know a lot of good people that were Slytherin, and I know plenty of bad people that were in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Your heart defines you, not your house.”
I roll my eyes and look up, seeing Harry and my mum nodding in agreement.
“Just look at Pettigrew, he was a Gryffindor and he’s as bad as they come,” Harry chimes in.
“Yeah, yeah. No need to be so sappy, Talons,” I respond.
Harry just grins before he returns to his letter. I look down again and open it. I pull the letter out, unfolding it, and read,
Dear Miss Black,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been offered a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins September 1st. We await your owl no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerely,
Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
“Is this Aunt Minnie,” I question.
“Yes, it is,” my mum responds fondly. “She was our favorite professor when we were in school, for obvious reasons.”
I nod, “So, she’s going to be watching Harry and I like a hawk then. Well, I’m off to write my acceptance, you coming Harry?”
Harry nods and stands, “Can you make sure the food doesn’t get cold, we’ll be right back.”
I hurry through the door and up the stairs. Once I reach my room, I sit at my desk and write down my acceptance before reaching over to where my owl, Alulu, rests on her perch. I gently rub her beak and show her the letter.
“To Hogwarts, Al,” I whisper.
She hoots at me, flashing her sunflower eyes, then showing me her leg where I attach the letter. I rub her head and give her a treat before opening the window for her. She spreads her wings and shoots out of the window, into the morning sky. Her beautiful grey and black-spotted body disappearing in a few short seconds. I close the window, spin around, and head back down to the dining room.
As I walk into the room, I see Harry retaking his seat while my parents are excitingly whispering to each other.
“What’s got you looking so excited,” Harry asks as I take my seat.
“Oh, nothing,” my mum says sheepishly, “just that we’ll be going to Diagon Alley tomorrow morning.”
“Can we go to Ollivander’s first? Please,” I ask, putting on my best puppy dog eyes.
My dad sighs, as if I’m asking for something he can’t afford, “I suppose we can go to Ollivander’s first.”
“YES!” Harry and I shout in sync.
“Thank you! Thank you!” I rush over to hug them both.
Harry follows me and while he’s hugging my mum, my dad picks me up and spins me around. We laugh until he gets dizzy and sets me down. We both stumble for a couple seconds before we grin at each other.
“Well,” he starts, “that was fun. I’ll have to teach you lot everything I know about Hogwarts. And I’ll have to make you a list of the best teachers to prank and how to get Peeves to work with you. I hear that Snivellus is a teacher now,” he turns towards his wife with a smirk.
“Don’t forget about the map, darling,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“Of course not, mon amour,” he replies, throwing a hand up. “You’ll have to knick it back from Filch. We gave it to him as our parting gift. He was quite overjoyed to take it from us.”
“Are we supposed to know who Filch is?” Harry asks.
“Not yet, but he’s the one who you have to watch out for. Nasty bit of work he is,” my dad answers.
My mum sighs, “Don’t forget about his cat, dear.”
“Of course! Thank Godric your mum is here. I’ve clearly forgotten all the important bits, haven’t I! Yes, Mrs. Norris, a dreadful animal really. She never liked me even when I wasn’t breaking rules,” he trails off.
“You do turn into a dog, Dad. That’s why you’ve got the nickname Padfoot,” I state lazily.
“True, I suppose she won’t like either of you then, sorry,” he replies, sheepishly smiling.
“Yeah, yeah. I blame you for that one. It’s almost like you and mum taught us how to be animagi or something,” Harry rebukes.
“So what that we did?” My mum defends, “You lot wanted to learn. We didn’t know you’d become those animals. Besides, you don’t complain about it.”
“I suppose,” Harry huffs in defeat.
“What time is it,” I ask, changing the subject.
“Merlin! It’s almost 10 a.m.! I need to get back to work. Alright, you lot behave and have a good day. I’ll see you later tonight,” my mum says, leaning over to kiss my dad goodbye.
“Be safe at work, love. We’ll be waiting,” my dad says.
“We can talk more about Hogwarts and what you’ll need tomorrow. I love you,” my mum says, just before she steps into the floo and goes back to St. Mungo’s.
Harry and I finish eating with my dad, then we help him clean up.
“Do you lot want to work more on wandless magic, or do you think you’ll be okay for today,” my dad inquires.
“I do,” Harry says, “I feel so close to being able to cast stupefy.”
“I’ll join,” I reply, “Maybe I can help Harry cast it.”
“Oi! It’s not my fault you’re gifted and I’m not,” Harry retorts.
“Alright pups, you are both very talented and very powerful. You think any other 11-year-old knows how to cast wandlessly? You both are years ahead of your peers and probably more adept at magic than most adults,” Sirius chimes in, “I know that I didn’t start learning wandless magic until I was 13.”
“Sorry, dad,” I say.
“Won’t happen again, Uncle Pads,” Harry replies.
Sirius nods his head, “Good. Head on down to the training room. I’m grabbing some water for us.”
He turned on his heel and headed to the kitchen. Harry and I walk out of the dining room and head down to the training room. Once inside, we set up the dummies and mats. My dad came down as we were finishing laying the mats down.
“Good work,” he starts, “Let’s begin.”
We spent hours in the training room. Harry did eventually cast stupefy, then we learned how to cast a wandless patronus. I, of course, was able to cast first after an hour of trying.
“Woah,” I say, in awe.
“Godric, that looks an awful like your animagus form,” Harry says.
“Very observant, Harry! Well done. Your patronus will take the form of your animagus form. If you don’t have an animagus form, your patronus will reflect the animal most like the memory you used,” my dad says.
“I’m a little confused about that last part but I guess I really don’t have to worry about that,” Harry says, “Let me try it again.”
He turns away from Sirius, “Expecto Patronum!”
A flash of white envelopes the room, blinding us. As the light recedes a little bit, the most magnificent bird of prey hovers in the middle of the room.
“It’s beautiful, Harry!” I gush, “mine’s definitely better but-“
“Oi! Mine’s ten times better,” Harry cuts in.
“No way!”
“Totally!”
“Not a chance!”
“Do you need glasses? ‘Cause anyone with e-”
“That’s quite enough you two,” my dad interrupts. “They’re both beautiful and amazing but everyone knows mine is the best!”
He waves his hand and his giant dog leaps in the air. It begins to chase Harry’s patronus around the room.
“Well now I’m feeling left out,” I say before casting my own.
The three patroneses run around the room while we watch on, smiles on each of our faces. We wait for a couple of minutes before heading up to eat dinner. After mum gets home, we have a family dinner and talk about everything that we did or learned today.
“You both better head up and get some sleep,” my mum says when there’s a lull in conversation. “It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”
“Okay. Goodnight, mum. Goodnight, dad,” I say.
“Goodnight, Aunt Vix. Goodnight, Uncle Pads,” Harry says.
Harry and I head up to our rooms.
“Goodnight, Harry,” I say softly, outside of my room.
“Goodnight, Lyra,” he replies, entering his room.
I turn and go into my room. I hear a pecking noise and turn to face the window.
“Oh, Al! I’m so sorry, girl.” I rush over to open the window.
As soon as the window is open, Al flies in and lands elegantly on her perch. I grab a treat for her and close the window again. I go to hand her the treat, but she pecks my finger.
“Yeah, I deserved that. Here you go, girl. I’m sorry I wasn’t up here sooner,” I whisper.
She hoots indignantly but eats her treat. I reach out to rub her head and she allows me to, cooing softly.
“Won’t ever happen again, I promise.”
She hoots at me, blinking her eyes in acceptance. I turn around and take a shower. Once I’m out of the shower, I brush my jet-black hair and throw on one of my dad’s old shirts and a pair of shorts. I crawl into bed, laying my head down. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light; dreaming of flying around a Quidditch pitch and a boy with hair like snow dressed in a green Quidditch kit.